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ELEMENTS , v 

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ANIMAL MAGNETISM: 



OR 



PROCESS AND APPLICATION 



FOR 



RELIEVING HUMAN SUFFERING. 



BY CHARLES MORLEY, 

PRACTICAL MAGNETIZER. 



"DECEIVE NOT YOURSELVES."— " FACT3 ARE STUBBORN THINGS." 



STEREOTYPE EDITION. 



NEW YORK: 



FOWLERS AND WELLS, 

PHRENOLOGICAL CABINET, 131 NASSAU STREET. 
AND EY BOOKSELLERS GENERALLY. 



ill 



2JT 



IN KCHANGE 



i JUL 



INTRODUCTION. 



Mesmer was the first who reduced the principles of Animal 
Magnetism to a system, and he employed it very successfully as 
an auxiliary of medicine in his extensive practice. This was in 
1774. In a few years he was assailed by numerous enemies. 
The curative effects of animal magnetism excited the jealousy of 
the medical faculty in Paris ; hence the Academe Royale Mede- 
cine, in the exercise of its royal prerogative of intolerance decreed : 
No physician shall declare himself a partisan of animal magnetism 
under the penalty of being struck from the list of members. In 
1745 this same Academy had condemned inocuiationas "murderous," 
44 criminal," and 4C magical." Peruvian bark shared the same fate ; 
also against the circulation of the blood. In 1784 this Academy 
appointed a committee from their number to examine and report on 
animal magnetism ; but instead of confining their attention to the 
facts which were laid before them, they sought the cause by which 
they were produced, and inquired into the existence of the fluid 
described by Mesmer, but it escaped their research. They could 
not see, taste, or touch it ; they could not collect it in masses, and 
could neither measure or weigh it ; therefore they made a leap in 
the dark, and concluded that animal magnetism did not exist. How 
ridiculous would such tests now seem to determine whether the 
mind exists or not ; but it is equally so with regard to animal mag- 
netism. But the decree of the Academy was assailed on all sides. 
and their sophistry detected by some of the most learned men of 
Europe, and the science spread in spite of persecution, through 
France, Germany, Holland, and many members of the Academy 
became believers and practisers of it, as an auxiliary of medicine ; 
and in 1825, a new commission was appointed to examine and re- 
port to the Society on the subject, and in 1831, they reported unan- 
imously in its favor, although when first appointed, several of the 
committee were opposed to it. In Europe, Cuvier, Laplace, Hum- 
boldt, Dugald Stewart, Coleridge, Prof. Kluge and Dr. Elliotson 



2 INTRODUCTION. 

are advocates of it ; and in our own country, Doctors Bartlet of 
Lowell ; Flint and Buyard of Boston ; Cutler of N. H. ; Cieaveland 
of R. I. ; and Payne and Hoffenuahl of Albany, use it with great 
success in their practice as an auxiliary of medicine; besides the 
president and professors of Union and other Colleges, and a large 
number of the most intelligent men in our country are either prac- 
tical magneti-ers or advocates of it. 

We are aware that it has numerous opposers. Every new dis- 
covery has had oppossrs, and the more important the discovery, the 
more numerous were the opposers. Harvey, the discoverer of the 
circulation of the blood was persecuted by the most learned physi- 
cian, and they so prejudiced the people against him, that he lost his 
extensive practice and had to flee. his native country. Gallileo was 
condemned to the inquisition. Fulton was persecuted. But like 
every other truth it will triumph over opposition, and hold up to 
shame and contempt, those who oppose it through ignorance and 
prejudice; as opposers of this and every truth, are among those who 
never have examined it ; for it is the universal result, that every 
one who carefully examines it ? by experiment and observation, be 
comes convinced of its reality. 

Animal magnetism is introduced w 7 ith success into the hospitals 
of Paris and London. At -Berlin is a professorship of Animal Mag- 
netism in the Medical College. The learned. Dr. Kluge now fills 
that station. 

Some charge the whole phenomena of Animal Magnetism to the 
devil. Admit this, and we must also admit that he is a clever sort 
of a fellow after all, to thus relieve distress, and rechim the drunkard 
from the intoxicating bowl, to become a good member of society : 
to change hatred into love, so that the subject can pray for his ene- 
Mies, and be saved from death. Magnetism does all this, and if this 
is a work of the devil, the poor fellow has heretofore been awfuliv 
slandered. 

Animal Magnetism like every other blessing has doubtless beet* 
abused by some, so has religion. 



ELEMENTS. 



OF 



ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 



CHAPTER I. 

DEFINITION OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

Anmlal Magnetism is the action of one mind upon 
another, so as to attract or influence it. We feel it 
whrm listening to the eloquence of a celebrated orator. 
He is the centre of attraction ; the audience is held 
in riveted attention ; he conducts them to the battle- 
field ; they hear the roaring cannon, they see the fields 
strewed with the dead and dying and covered with 
blood. The result is similar when we listen to the 
singing of an accomplished musician. But what is 
more especially understood by animal magnetism, is 
that power which some possess of so concentrating 
their attention, and directing their will with such en- 
ergy, as to put some persons into a magnetic sleep, 
aud frequently to cure or relieve diseases. Its more 
appropriate name is pneumatology. It is a species 
of electricity. 

CHAPTER II. 

ANALOGY BETWEEN NATURAL AND MAGNETIC SOMNAMBULISM. 

Sec. I. Natural Somnambulism. A somnambulist 
mentioned by Gassendi used to rise, dresi himself in 
his sleep, go down to the cellar, and draw wine from 
a cask. One night he carried on his head a table 



4 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

covered with decanters, up a very narrow stair-case, 
and with more dexterity than he could have done when 
awake. 

The Archbishop of Bordeaux, states in the thirty- 
eighth volume of the Encyclopedia, edited by Diderot, 
d'Alembert, &c, the case of a young clergyman who 
was in the habit of rising during the night in a state of 
somnambulism, and writing his sermons. When he had 
finished one page of his manuscript, he would revise it, 
after having read it aloud. In order to ascertain whe- 
ther he made any use of his eyes, the Archbishop held a 
piece of paste-board under his chin to prevent his seeing 
the paper before him ; but he continued to write on 
without being at all incommoded. Dr. Dwight mentions 
the case of a somnambulist who every morning on 
awaking found himself minus a shirt. After thus losing 
about two dozen, and having no remembrance of what 
had become of them, his brother slept w T ith him one 
night, to ascertain, if possible, what he did with his 
shirts. About twelve o'clock he arose, dressed himself 
and went out ; his brother followed him to a pond, one 
mile distant ; there he undressed himself and took his 
shirt and thrust it into a hollow log ; then bathed ; after 
which he dressed himself, with the exception of his 
shirt, and returned, undressed himself, and retired to bed, 
In tne morning he awoke as usual and found his shirt 
missing ; he inquired of his brother what had become 
of it ; he told him that if he would follow him he would 
show it him ; they went to the pond and there found it, 
and all the others, stowed away in the hollow log. 

A man in Massachusetts arose in his sleep and threshed 
out his grain, and then retired to bed ; the next day he 
was much astonished, when he went to his barn for the 
purpose of threshing his grain, to find it already done. 

A girl in Albany is accustomed to rise in her sleep, and 
sew and do other unfinished work of the preceding day ; 
but has no recollection, when awake, of it. 

Dr. Haycock, professor of medicine in Oxford, would 
give out a text in his sleep, and deliver a good sermon 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 5 

from it, nor could all the pinching and pulling of his 
friends prevent him. A volume of sermons, preached in 
New York a few years since by a young girl, a natural 
somnambulist, have been published. 

Dr. Belden gives the following description of the 
Springfield somnambulist : One of her fits of somnam- 
bulism continued forty-eight hours ; many attempts were 
made in vain to arouse her ; a bandage was tied over 
her eyes, but she read a great variety of cards written 
and presented to her by different persons, told the time 
by watches, and wrote short sentences. A second ban- 
dage was placed over the other, but apparently without 
causing any obstruction to the vision. She repeated 
with great propriety and distinctness several pieces of 
poetry, some of which she had learned in childhood, but 
had forgotten, and others which she had merely read 
several years since ; she sung several songs correctly, 
yet she had never learned to sing, and has never been 
known to sing when awake. In another fit, I took a 
large black silk handkerchief, placed between the folds 
two pieces of cotton batting, and applied it in such s 
manner that the cotton came directly over the eyes, and 
completely filled the cavity on each side of the nose. 
Various names w r ere then w T ritten on cards, which she 
read as soon as they were presented to her. When at 
Worcester, in one of her somnambulic attacks, she was 
taught how to play backgammon, and in the sixth game 
beat Dr. Butler, an experienced player. But she could 
not even set the men w T hen awake. 

Dr. Abercrombie gives the following extraordinary 
account of a natural somnambulist : "A girl aged seven 
years slept in an apartment, separated by a very thin 
wall from one which was frequently occupied by an em- 
inent itinerant fiddler, who often spent the greater part 
of the night in performing pieces of a very refined de- 
scription ; but this child took no notice of it only as a 
very disagreeable noise. Six months after, she became 
sick, and was removed to the house of a benevolent lady, 
where, after her recovery from a protracted illness, she 



6 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM, 

was employed as a servant. Some years after, the most 
beautiful music was often heard in the house during the 
night. At length the sound was traced to the sleeping 
room of the girl, who was found fast asleep, but utter- 
ing from her lips a sound exactly resembling the sweet- 
est sounds of a small violin. She would first utter 
sounds precisely resembling the tuning of a violin, and 
then dashed off into elaborate music, which she perform- 
ed in a clear and accurate manner, and with a sound 
exactly resembling the most 1 delicate modulations of that 
instrument. Soon she imitated the piano, and sung, imi- 
tating precisely the voices of several ladies of the fami- 
ly. She was, when awake, a dull awkward girl, and in 
point of intellect was much inferior to the other servants 
of the family." 

Said S. T. Coleridge, "A young woman of 25, who 
could neither read nor write, was seized with a nervous 
fever, during which she talked continually, Latin, Greek, 
and Hebrew. She had when a child lived with a clergy- 
man, who occasionally read in each of these languages." 

Sec. II. Magnetic Somnambulism. M. Delouze in 
his critical history of Animal Magnetism, gives the fol- 
lowing summary of the phenomena of Magnetic Somnam- 
bulism. " When magnetism produces somnambulism, 
the being who is in this condition acquires a prodigious 
extension in the faculty of sensation ; his eyes are shut, 
his ears are closed ; yet he sees and hears better than 
any one awake. He is under the will of his magnetiser 
in regard to every thing that cannot hurt him, and he does 
not feel contrary to his ideas of justice and truth. H3 
recovers the recollection of things he had forgotten when 
awake. He expresses himself with astonishing facility. 
When he awakes he forgets all. The magnetic somnam- 
bule perceives innumerable relations in all objects, with 
an extreme rapidity, and in one minute runs through a 
train of ideas which to us would requir3 many hours. 
Time seems to vanish before him." " Of all the disco 
veries which have excited attention, this gives us the 
most insight into the nature and faculties of man." The 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 7 

following case was embodied in the report of the com- 
missioners of the French Academy, and read to that 
learned body in 1831, to which we have referred. On 
the 18th of March, 1826, M. Petit was set asleep in one 
minute. A bandage was put over his eyes ; one of the 
gentlemen present, M. Raynal, played a game of cards 
with M. Petit, and lost it. The latter handled his cards 
with the greatest dexterity, and without making any mis- 
take. We attempted several times in vain to set him at 
fault by taking away or changing some of his cards. 
They also attest other cases, among which was M. Paul, 
who was put asleep in two minutes by M. Foissac, and 
read fluently any book presented to him. 

The following statement was published in the Salem 

Gazette, in 1836 : " Dr. B -, of Providence, operated 

upon a young lady, during the period of magnetic sleop, 
who could tell correctly the time by a watch, though 
enveloped in a cloth, and at the same time having a 
bandage over her eyes. The doctor had a patient sick, 
as was believed, of liver complaint, and bade the som- 
nambulist go in spirit to the man's house, (it being one 
fourth of a mile distant.) Arrived, she, at the Doctor's 
request, described the house, that there might be no 
mistake, and then entered. w What do you see ? " ask- 
ed Dr. B. "A man sick." I wish you to tell me what 
ails him. First look at his head ; is it w T e!l ? " Yes." 
How do you know ? " Because it looks like yours or 
any other one who is well." Is the liver, heart, &c, 
well ? " 6i Yes/' Do you see anything wrong ? " Yes, 
there is an enlargement of the spleen." Several ques- 
tions were then put to confuse her, and also to ascer- 
tain if she knew what the spleen was, and where situa- 
ted ; to all which she gave correct answers. In four 
days the patient died;* a post mortem examination was 
instituted ; all the physicians of the city were present, 
to whom the story of the girl was narrated before com- 
mencing operations, and they were requested to exam- 
ine the body to see if they could discover the diseased 
spleen from external examination. They, sixteen in 



8 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

number, declared with one voice that they could not. 
The body was then opened, and to the astonishment oi 
all present, the girl was right ; the spleen weighed fifty- 
seven ounces ; its usual weight being from four to six 
ounces." 

The natural somnambule is impelled by his own ima- 
gination, and certain corporeal impressions ; the mag- 
netic wholly depends on the will and faculties of his 
magnetiser. But in all the highest cases of phenomena 
in magnetic somnambulism, there are cases in natural 
somnambulism almost identical with them. 

The following is extracted from the Journal de la 
Meuse for the 20th September, 1835: "A girl by the 
name of Arron, when plunged in a state of natural som- 
nambulism, answers with precision the questions put to 
her ; she perceives not only such natural objects as are 
around her, but also those which are concealed ; and, 
w T hat is still more surprising, objects removed to a very 
great distance. A physician from Chartres, saw her in 
an attack and said to her, " Mary, do you know me V 
" Yes sir." " Who am I ? " " You are a physician." — 
" Where do I live ? " "At Chartres." " Can you see 
my house ? " " Yes." " Is there any company in it ? " 
" Yes ; four ladies ; one old, two middle aged, and one 
a young lady." " What do I hold in my hand ? " "A 
small wooden box." " What does it contain ? " " Sharp 
little iron tools." " What do I hold in my hand ? " 
" Some money." " How much ? " (She names the 
sum.) " In what coins ? " (She specifies them.) All 
these answers were perfectly correct. 

The following experiments were performed by the 

writer: June 19th, 1840, put Miss W , of Albany, 

into a magnetic somnambulism in 20 minutes ; she walked 
wherever I directed her, either by word or simply wil- 
ling her. Without any gesture or moving of my lips, 
she would converse with me or with any other one that 
I willed. She would tell accurately what was held be- 
hind her head ; read cards placed on her stomach ; sung 
whenever I willed. June 22d, put her into a magnetic 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 9 

sleep in 14 minutes. Mr. Lancaster, Mr. Bulgin and se- 
veral ladies were present. She walked as before ; a 
large black-board was placed before her at the distance 
of four afeet ; the different individuals present held 
various articles behind it, and she told correctly in evrey 
instance, what they were ; she also read accurately, 
cards and books held behind the black-board. I went 
out of the room, after requesting her to notice w r hat I 
should do, and on my return she stated accurately. She 
is the natural somnambulist that I have referred to in the 
first section of this chapter. 

Clairvoyance at a Distance. — Dr. Arndt, the emi- 
nent German physician, relates, that being one day seat- 
ed near the bed of one of his somnambulists, on a 
sudden she became agitated, uttered sighs, and as if 
tormented by some vision, exclaimed, " O heavens ! 
my father ! he is dying ! he is dying ! " A few mo- 
ments afterwards she awoke, seemed quite cheerful, 
and recollected nothing of the anxiety she had so re- 
cently manifested. She relapsed twice into the same 
state of magnetic sleep, and each time she w T as tormented 
by the same vision. Being asked what had happened to 
her father, she replied, " he is bathed in blood, he is dy- 
ing." Soon she awoke and was cheerful as before. 
Some weeks after, Dr. A. found this lady pensive and 
sorrowful, she had just received a letter respecting her 
father, who was distant 450 miles, stating that a serious 
accident had befallen him. In ascending the stair of his 
cellar the door had fallen on his breast ; a considerable 
ha3morrhage ensued, and the physicians despaired of his 
life. Dr. A. had marked the precise time of the prece- 
ding scene of the somnambulism of the lady, found that 
it was exactly on the day and at the hour when the ac- 
cident happened to her father. 



10 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 



CHAPTER III. 

USES OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

When an individual is in somnambulism, sensibility 13 
destroyed, and the most painful surgical operations have 
been performed, and the patient remained the whole time 
in a state of perfect unconsciousness. " The most painful 
chronic diseases, as well as numerous spasmodic nervous 
affections have been either perfectly cured or relieved 
by its application. And it frequently restores the pa- 
tient when medicine fails. Says Deluze, magnetism of- 
ten assuages a fever ; and is a sovereign remedy for en- 
largement of the glands, and has wrought astonishing 
cures in scrofulous complaints ; ulcers which have ex- 
hausted the resources of medicine, have been cured by 
magnetism. A woman who had an ulcer ten years was 
cured in thirty-five sittings. There have been over six- 
ty cases of paralysis cured by magnetism in France. 
Rheumatic affections are usually speedily cured by it. 
It is a certain remedy for tic doloureux. Continues De- 
luze : a young lady of twenty had attacks of epilepsy 
ever since she was nine years old, and had been unsuc- 
cessfully treated by the most able physicians. It is 
three months since she had recourse to magnetism. — 
From the first month her attacks became weaker and 
less frequent ; at the end of the second they entirely 
disappeared, and she now enjoys perfect health." Dr. 
Cutter of Nashua, N. H. gives the following account 
in a letter to T. C. Hartshorn, of Providence, dated — 

Nashua, N. H. Nov. 22, 1837. 
Tic Douloureux. — " I was called to see Miss E. M. 
of this town. The disease was confined to the right 
side of the face. I proposed magnetism, she assented. 
After sleeping a short time I awoke her and the pain 
was gone, and has not returned." 

A little girl ten years of age, daughter of Mr. Mayer 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. II 

of Albany, had had convulsion fits for several days, and 
was given over by the physicians, who said that she 
could not live twenty-four hours ; as the last means hei 
father sent for the Rev. Mr. Garfield, a magnetiser, to 
try magnetism on her. When he arrived, the girl was 
insensible, and her frame much convulsed ; he com- 
menced magnetizing her ; in a few minutes she was per- 
fectly calm, and went into a tranquil slumber and slept 
well during the night ; tli3 next morning she awoke and 
conversed with those around her ; her fits had ceased ; 
after that she was magnetised several times, and in five 
days she was well. 

Dr. J. W. Robbins of Uxbridge, Mass., thus states, 
" One individual was affected with dyspepsia, had a cra- 
ving appetite for fruits and aliments which were sure to 
distress her. When in magnetic sleep, I enjoined upon 
her in the most impressive manner not to indulge her- 
self in their use. The day following, having procured 
an apple, she wished to eat it, but found herself under 
the control of a mysterious influence which rendered it 
morally impossible. I next tried the experiment with 
regard to tea ; I willed that every attempt to take the 
least quantity should be followed by nausea. All her suc- 
ceeding attempts to take tea was followed by distress- 
ing sickness ; and it is now several months, yet those ha- 
bits remain corrected. I tried the experiment of inter- 
dicting the use of both tea and coffee with equal success ; 
the same with the use of snuff." Another gentleman 
states that an inveterate attachment to tobacco in its va- 
rious shapes, has been entirely destroyed, though the pa- 
tient, a medical student, knew nothing of the cause of 
it, while in the ordinary state. In another individual a 
spirit of charitable feeling was induced towards an in- 
dividual who had rendered himself an object of the pa- 
tient's hatred and indignation. Thus far the spirit of 
forgiveness prevails, although the patient is ignorant of 
the cause. Other experiments have been made to excite 
cheerfulness, hope, &c, successfully. It may be applied 
to every bad habit with equal success. 



J a ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

A materialist in Albany, when he saw the astonishing 
phenomena of magnetic somnambulism exhibited in his 
own daughter, exclaimed, " I have been deceived, the 
soul is not material, it is an immortal spirit I see ample 
proofs of it before me." Therefore this science is not 
only of vast importance as an auxiliary of medicine ; 
but also as a corrector of evil habits, and a promoter of 
Christianity. 

Effects of Animal Magnetism on Superstition. — 
Animal Magnetism throws considerable light on many 
of the mystic rites and ceremonies of the ancients ; it 
unseals the door of the heathen temple, and strips the 
priest before his altar of all his supernatural attributes ; 
it explains a variety of extraordinary facts w T hich the 
historians of all ages have recorded, and connects them 
with each as effects which are identical and dependent 
on the operation of the same cause. It affords, too, a 
satisfactory explanation of the curious facts connected 
with sorcery and witchcraft, which during the middle 
ages excited the apprehensions of the vulgar, imposed 
on the credulity of the learned, and led to those hor- 
rible persecutions which prevailed throughout Europe. 
Prosper Alpinus states that frictions during ablution 
were among the se-cret remedies of the Egyptian priests : 

" The mystery of Oracles, the prophetic ravings of 
the Sybils, ore explicable on the same principle." Jose- 
phus was frequently in somnambulism. Among the an- 
cient oriental nations, the treatment and cure of disea- 
ses by the application of the hands is universally attest- 
ed. Jarchas informs us that he saw almost every de- 
scription of disease cured in this way by the Indian sa- 
ges. "In looking over the trials of those unfortunate 
persons who were condemned for witchcraft, it is impos- 
sible to escape the conviction that the sorcerers or wiz- 
zards exercised a truly magnetic influence over their 
credulous disciples." " The affected persons exhibited 
several of the phenomena of somnambulism, and it is 
not surprising that in that age of darkness, effects so ex- 
traordinary were ascribed to the devil." 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 13 

Persons in somnambulism, as we have shown, are de- 
prived of sensation ; this in those times was considered 
a sure sign of witchcraft, and multitudes were murdered 
with no other proof against them. Increase Mather 
thus states about the New England witches : " They 
did mutually with the touch cure each other, and fore- 
told when another fit was coming on, and it happened 
accordingly ; their eyes in the fits were fast closed." 
Animal Magnetism explains the phenomena of Irving' s 
prophetessses. Those persons who fall at camp meet- 
ings are in somnambulism, and fully explain those phe- 
nomena that they exhibit, which have so long excited 
astonishment. " The somnambulic faculty of clairvoy- 
ance, or the power of seeing events passing at a dis- 
tant place, affords a solution of the mystery of what in 
the north of Scotland is called second sight " Therefore- 
fore a general knowledge of animal magnetism will ba- 
nish superstition of every description from the globe. — 
The superstitious through ignorance attribute natural ap- 
pearances to supernatural cuuses. 

" Mesmerism and Surgery. — At the invitation of Dr. 
Homer Bostwick, of No. 75 Chambers-st., we witnessed 
Saturday, a surgical operation upon a patient in the state 
of Mesmeric Sleep. The operation was performed at 
No. 152 Church-st., and consisted in the removal of an 
adipose tumor from the back. The patient was a color- 
ed woman named Emeline Brown, a servant in the fa- 
mily of the Rev. Dr. Higbee. She was magnetized by 
Daniel Oltz, of No. 80 Chambers-st., assisted by E. J. 
Pike. After the patient had been thrown into the proper 
state, Mr. Oltz left the room, but Mr. Pike remained and 
held her hand during the operation. The object of this, 
as we understood, was to insure her continuance in a 
state of perfect unconsciousness. Only five minutes 
were occupied in magnetizing the patient. She sat in 
a chair, her head thrown forward and resting on a table. 
There was every indication of a state of perfect uncon- 
sciousness. 

■* Dr. Bostwick, before commencing the operation, sta- 



14 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

ted that he had been entirely skeptical on the subject^ 
but had desired in this instance to subject the claims of 
magnetism to a practical test. Mr. Oltz, the magneti- 
zer, had not known the patient until some three days 
previously, and had magnetized her only some four or 
live times, at Dr. Bostwick's 'request. Mr. Pike had 
never seen her previous to the time fixed for the er>< 
periment. 

" The magnetizer having pronounced the patient in the 
proper state, Doctor Bostwick (assisted by Doctors 
Samuel R. Childs and John Stearns,) proceeded with 
the operation. He first made an incision about eight 
inches in length across the tumor, and then proceeded 
to remove it by the usual process. The operation last- 
ed three minutes, and required no small amount of cut- 
ting. We stood within two feet of the patient, and 
watched her narrowly. There was no muscular twitch- 
ing and no manifestation whatever of sensibility to pain, 
or even of consciousness. A physician examined the 
pulse and said it was quite natural though somewhat 
feebler, perhaps, than usual. A dead body could not 
have exhibited stronger insensibility to pain. The tu- 
mor weighed ten ounces. The wound did not bleed 
near as profusely as such wounds do when the patient is 
in a natural state. The whole operation of removing 
the tumor and dressing the wound occupied just half an 
hour. 

" The wound having been dressed and the garments of 
the patient adjusted, Mr. Oltz awoke her by a few pas- 
ses, w r hich occupied less than a minute. Her appear- 
ance was much like that of a person suddenly aroused 
from ordinary sleep, Questions were put to her imply- 
ing that the operation had not been peformed, and that 
she would have to be magnetized again. She said she 
would rather submit to the operation at once in the nat- 
ural state than wait any longer. She was asked if she 
did not know that the tumor had been removed. She 
replied in the negative, and with every appearance of 
perfect simplicity and integrity, declared that she had 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 15 

felt no pain and was wholly ignorant of whatever had 
transpired during her sleep. 

u There were present as witnesses, including several 
Reporters for the Press, some dozen persons. Among 
them we name the following gentlemen : — Dr. Eleazer 
Parmly ; Edward A.Lawrence, from the Rooms of the 
Home Missionary Society, J, R. S. Van Vleet, from the 
Office of the Courier and Enquirer ; E. A. Buffum, Re- 
porter for the Herald ; Dr. H. H. Sherwood ; Dr. Ed- 
ward Spring ; Oliver Johnson, Assistant Editor of the 
Tribune. There were others whose names we did not 
learn. 

We have no comment to make upon the facts thus 
stated, except to express our perfect conviction that 
there were no collusions. In fact we see not how de- 
^ntion could have been possible under the circumstan- 
ces. The most obstinate skepticism must yield in the 
presence of facts like these," — N. Y. Tribune, 



CHAPTER IV. 



PROCESSES. 



There are various methods practiced by different mag* 
netizers. But we think the following preferable : 

If you wish to put a person into the magnetic sleep, 
cause him to sit as easy as possible in an easy chair, 
with his head reclined back, and require him to be per- 
fectly quiet ; sit down before him, place your knees 
beside his ; then take his thumbs in such a manner tho.t 
the inside of your thumbs will touch the inside of his. 
Concentrate your attention, and will him to sleep ; after 
holding him thus about ten minutes, slowly raise your 
hands with the palms turned outward to his head, then 



16 ELEltfENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

turning the palms inward let them descend to his shoul- 
ders, and let them remain there live minutes ; then 
let your hands descend with the fingers pointed towards 
the arms, at the distance of two or three inches from 
them to the extremities of his fingers ; let your hands 
then ascend, sweeping them off to the right and the left, 
to their extent, palms outward as before ; raise them 
as high as the head, then descend as before ; thus continue 
from five to ten minutes, and lastly, lay the right 
hand upon the pit of the stomach. Remember that un- 
less you keep your attention fixed, your will steady and 
unwavering, your efforts will be vain. The operation 
is principally intellectual ; many make no use of the ma- 
nipulations, and produce all the effects by the mere ener- 
gy of the will, at a distance from the patient ; but still 
the movements of the hands give some assistance in pro- 
ducing the magnetic current ; the downward motions are 
magnetic, the upw T ard are not. Some persons are much 
more susceptible of the magnetic influence than others ; 
hence some require a longer time in being put into the 
magnetic sleep than others ; in some cases the processes 
are shortened, in others they must be lengthened. There 
are some persons upon whom magnetism has no sensible 
effects. Another very successful method is, to take the 
patient by one hand and place the other hand on the 
head and exert the will as in the preceding case. 

But a comparative few that are put into magnetic 
sleep become somnambulists. If a person in this sleep 
will answer the questions of his magnetiser, he is m 
somnambulism. To awaken the patient from magnetic 
sleep make upward motions with your hands before his 
face, willing him to awake, and he immediately awakes. 

Its Application to Diseases. — The magnetic sleep is 
highly restorative, and always should be resorted to 
when the complaint is general ; but when there is simply 
a local pain or disease, there is no necessity for it. For 
head-ache place your hand upon the part affected and 
exercise a constant and benevolent desire to relieve pain ; 
and after holding it there a few minutes pass it lightly 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 17 

over the head from right to left ; if the pain is occa 
sioned by the stomach, next place your hand on it and 
proceed as with the head. If the head-ache is accom- 
panied with cold feet, after holding the hand on the head 
for a short time, draw the hands slowly from the head 
downw r ards, along the sides, to the knees ; soon the 
head will be relieved and the feet become warm. If 
the pain has existed for years it is chronic and must have 
a prolonged treatment. 

In rheumatism, if local, place your hand where pain 
is felt, hold it for fifteen or twenty minutes, then pass 
your hand lightly to the extremity of the feet, and thus 
continue for ten minutes ; but if the limbs are generally 
affected, make passes at a short distance from them 
to their extremities, for an hour or more ; if the dis- 
ease is chronic repeat the operation daily until the relief 
is complete ; and so of every chronic disease. Says 
Deluze, " I have seen a fit of the gout, so violent that the 
patient could not put his foot to the earth, relieved by one 
sitting and cured by three, and the pains have not re- 
turned for eighteen months. I have also seen a som- 
nambulist in fifteen days cure her magnetizer, who for 
a long time suffered with the gout in the knees and feet. 
For this purpose she merely employed passes along the 
legs, continuing them each day for a quarter of an hour. 
When the gout has mounted to the head or chest, mag- 
netism readily brings it down to the feet, and then draws 
it off at the extremities." 

We mean by pass, simply passing the hand sor moving 
them as we have stated. 

For tooth-ache hold the hand on the part affected for 
a few minutes, then pass the ends of the fingers slightly 
over the cheek from right to left. 

" In biles, magnetise when the inflammation begins." 
" For a felon, make passses along the arm as far as the 
extremity of the finger, and then concentrate the action, 
and then draw it off from the end." 

It is not pretended that magnetism cures all diseases ; 
some are beyond its reach ; but it is a valuable auxiliary 



18 ELEMENTS OP ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

of medicine, and every physician should be familiar with 
its principles ; and a general knowledge of them would 
relieve many of the ills of life, and preserve multitudes 
from untimely graves. Says Baron Dupotet, " the value 
of such a discovery as animal magnetism is to be esti- 
mated, not by the evils to which its unskilful application 
may give rise, but by the positive good which may be 
derived from it. Already we have seen that during the 
state of magnetic insensibility the most painful surgical 
operations may be performed, and the patient remain the 
whole time in a state of perfect unconsciousness. Is this 
not a boon to suffering humanity ? This is not all : the 
most obstinate and painful chronic diseases have been 
relieved and perfectly cured by its application. It w T as 
the successful treatment and cure of diseases which had 
notoriously resisted every other remedy, which compel- 
led the rudest and most inveterate of our antagonists to 
recognize the influence of magnetism ; and when these 
facts were demonstrated beyond all reasonable contro- 
versy, it remained for them to seek in the umbrage of 
their imagination the solution of the mystery. In epilep- 
sy, hysteria, neuralgia, chronic rheumatism, head ache, I 
know of no remedy so immediate and availing. How 
often have I seen the victim of pain writhing in the most 
acute agony, sink under its influence into a state of the 
most placid composure ! How often have I heard thanks- 
givings and prayers breathed in gratitude to the Creator 
for the relief which the afflicted have hereby experi- 
enced ! At Gronigen, a girl nineteen years old was suf- 
fering under hysterical spasms, which sometimes contin- 
ued forty-eight hours ; after being magnetised half an 
hour a day for three weeks, recovered." "A lady resi- 
ding in London, after a violent attack of fever, under 
which she was suffering in December and January last, 
was affected by convulsions of every kind, but mostly \j 
fainting, which often lasted two hours, and it was difficult 
to bring her to herself, I was present one day when the 
fainting was coming on, and tried to make application ot 
magnetism ; I had scarcely begun to operate, when she 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 19 

quickly recovered from the fainting, as though she had been 
awakened from a dream, and from that moment she gra- 
dually recovered." Says Dr. Elliotson of London, one 
of the most eminent physicians in the British empire, '* 1 
know of no certain cure for epilepsy but magnetism, I 
have cured several by it." Says Baron Dupotet, " in 
many acute diseases, medicine should be used with 
magnetism." 

To cure a person of any bad habit, as intemperance, 
he must be put into the magnetic sleep and then the 
magnetizer must will with energy that the least partici- 
pation in intoxicating drinks, snuff, tobacco, opium, or 
whatever it may be, should cause nausea, and he will be 
forever unable to partake the interdicted articles ; unless 
in another magnetic sleep the magnetizer should remove 
the interdiction. It may be equally well appled to an- 
ger, revenge, and every evil passion. Hence the philan- 
thropist, by a practical knowledge of this agent has his 
means for relieving suffering humanity increased a thou- 
sand fold; and many frightful maladies, and infidelity, 
will take their flight before its bright rays from our globe. 

Note. A person cannot be magnetized when under the 
influence of any stimulating drink, food, or any excitement. 



CHAPTER V. 

PRECAUTIONS. 

Says Baron Dupotet, " I am anxious to impress on the 
minds of those who may feel inclined to try the experi- . 
ment, that the operation is not always unattended with 
danger ; for I have known instances of many who in en- 
deavoring to induce the magnetic phenomena, have 



20 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

placed themselves in a very painful position, and the per- 
son operated on in a very alarming state. Of course 
animal magnetism, like every other science, has its own 
laws, and these should be diligently studied before any 
individual attempts to practice it. M. de S. C, a retired 
officer, having heard a vague report of animal magnetism, 
attempted to make the experiment upon his own daugh- 
ter, although she complained of no illness. He merely 
wished to ascertain whether he could make her feel the 
magnetic sensations. With this view, and without being 
aware of the extent of mischief he was provoking, he 
laid his hand on the stomach of his daughter and obeyed 
the magnetic injunctions. After a few moments of 
magnetization, she experienced spasmodic attacks, and 
shortly was siezed with violent convulsions ; and her fa- 
ther, not knowing how to calm them, only increased 
their intensity, and she thus remained for a week." 

Says M. de Puysegur, " a young lady of Nantes, of 
distinguished bir.th, when on a visit to her relative, the 
Marquis de B., was indulging with the rest of the com- 
pany in passing sundry jokes upon magnetism. Her un- 
cle, M. de B., who outstepped, by his sarcastic remarks, 
every one present, and was gesticulating with great 
freedom, began to direct his pretended influence upon his 
niece, when they both set about magnetizing each other 
as fast as they could. At first the young lady laughed 
very heartily, but it was soon discovered that this laugh- 
ter was any thing but natural ; and she was gradually lo- 
sing her reason; she followed her magnetizer every 
where, and yielded to his sole influence. The spectators 
attempted to separate them, but this only provoked 
dreadful convulsions. Her magnetizer felt extraordina- 
ry sensations ; the lady remained in that alarming state 
several days." But if convulsions do occur, the mag- 
netizer by being calm and firm can soon quell them, by 
making passes at a short distance from the patient, and 
directing the energy of his will to soothing or calming 
them. An experienced magnetizer rarely ever induces 
convulsions, and if he should he can speedily remove 



ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 21 

them. In magnetizing for the relief of any local pain, 
there is no danger; so that any one can attempt it with 
impunity. In nearly all cases where there have been 
convulsions, they have occurred when attempts were 
made through mere curiosity, to excite the magnetic 
phenomena. Women can magnetize equally as w T ell as 
men ; all nurses should be magnetizers. 



CHAPTER VI. 

EXPERIMENTS. 

SaysBaron Dupotet. "A large marble pestle, after 
being magnetized, was wholly immersed in muriatic acid, 
in which it was kept until the acid had reduced the mass 
to about one half of its original size, it was then drawn 
out, well cleansed, and presented to the somnambulist, 
who fell asleep as soon as he had touched the whole 
mass of marble." There is an analogy between animal 
magnetism and electricity, because if the magnetizer 
places himself on an insulated glass stool, he can mag- 
netize with double power, and if the hand of the mag- 
netizer is on the head of the magnetized, and the hand of 
the latter touches the head of the magnetizer, that mo- 
ment he experiences a shock like that of electricity ; 
also if a natural magnet be held near the hand of a per- 
son in magnetic sleep, it follows the magnet. A bottle 
of magnetized water put to the feet of a person with 
cold feet, will w T arm them. Magnetized water is very 
beneficial to persons in ill health. 



22 ELEMENTS OF ANIMAL MAGNETISM 



CHAPTER VII 

CONCLUSION, 

The phenomena of somnambulism are similar "to the 
unclouding of the mind previous to death. Thus does 
the study of animal magnetism assume a peculiar sacred 
interest ; it is the unveiling to us our spiritual nature, and 
leads us onward even to the verge of eternity." It also 
demonstrates that all thoughts are in themselves imper- 
ishable, and will at one view crowd upon us when sepa- 
rated from our clay tenements. " Do we understand the 
connection between our bodies and souls ? No. Let 
proud philosophy, therefore, descend from her throne of 
bigotry and intolerance, and with a spirit of humility, 
prepare to investigate these solemn mysteries. I know 
of no study so exalting to the human mind, none so deep- 
ly interesting to all who are capable of reflecting on 
their destiny." 

" To practice magnetism successfully," says M. de 
Puysegur, " you must have an active will to do good ; 
a firm belief in your power, and an active confidence in 
employing 'it ." 

Let us thank heaven that the exercise of an agent so 
useful, and sublime«as that of animal magnetism, demand- 
ing only singleness of faith, purity of intention, and a 
development of a natural sentiment, which connects us 
with the sufferings of our fellow men, and inspires us 
with the desire and the hope of relieving them.'' The 
female tract distributor, who understands magnetism, 
has an additional power of doing good, and can be an 
angel of mercy to multitudes of the poor and suffering 
in our cities. If the immortal Howard had understood 
it, how much more good he might have accomplished, 
what sparkling gems it would have added to his crown : 
what new joys would have filled his heart. 



APPENDIX. 



MAGNETIC AND CLAIRVOYANT TREATMENT OF 
INSANITY. 

In 1847, Dr. Barker, of South Adams, Mass., cured Miss 
Potter, of that place, of insanity, by magnetism. The following 
statements on insanity were made on the evening of June 11th, 
1848, by S. G. Grooms, of Troy, N. Y., while in the clairvoy- 
ant state. 

Insanity, or Disease of the Mind. — Physicians are often igno- 
rant of its cause. There are portions of the brain that cannot 
bear the least pressure, without derangement, or fits. The or- 
gans of Destructiveness and Combativeness are the most easily 
affected. When there is an equilibrium of the circulation of the 
blood, there will be no derangement : lack of circulation is the 
first cause of insanity ; then a portion of the serum does not be- 
come blood. A bruise becomes bad blood, and pleurisy is pro- 
duced by thick blood. 

Different organs become deranged, as Eventuality, Constructive- 
ness, Secretiveness, and Acquisitiveness ; when the iast-named or- 
gan and Color are deranged, the person thus affected will steal arti- 
cles of a certain color. The physician's first object should be, to 
ascertain what organ is affected. If Mirthfulness is disordered, 
excite Veneration. Try to draw the surplus blood from the brain 
toward the extremities, by magnetic passes. 

Insane persons ought never to be opposed. Follow them in 
their views, as if they were sane, by small portions, in due sea- 
son. Examine the patient's hands and feet; when they are 
warm, and animal heat is equalized with moderate perspiration, 
and the system is open, the health of the person is good. 

Trf.atmknt. — For Nervous Derangement. — After bleeding 
the patient a little, give the following medicine to strengthen the 
nerves. Take tincture of iron, (made by pouring boiling water 
upon iron, or boiling a piece of iron in water,) with skull cap and 
a little castor, (from the beaver,) and assafoetida, and make a tea 
of this mixture. Or sulphate of iron, one ounce; rectified spir- 
its, two pints. Another mode is : take ammoniate of iron, four 
ounces; proof spirits, one pint: digest and strain. 

For Mental Derangement. — Reduce the patient by dieting, 
and not permit him to eat food that makes blood. The following 
articles are appropriate, namely : crackers, rice, and molasses ; 



24 APPENDIX. 

and avoid stimulants. A person of strong, robust constitution, and 
red face, needs bleeding. Palsy is produced by a similar cause 
as insanity. Never let the insane know that you think them in- 
sane, as it makes them worse ; and also eyeing them with suspicion 
does the same. The reason why their best friends prove their 
worst enemies is, because they eye them closely, which horrifies 
the insane and increases their malady, and begets in them extreme 
hatred toward their friends. Insane persons should be talked 
with as if they were sane and rational. They ought to see fre- 
quent change of scenery, the oftener the better; and in extreme 
cases, let pictures in the room be changed hourly. 

Persons that become insane by fixing their thoughts constantly 
on one thing, are hard to cure. Any person confined in a white 
glass globe, would become insane in six hours. Long and intense 
thinking on one subject will render any person more or less in- 
sane. 

The doctrine of election causes more insanity than any other 
one subject, because it leads its believers to doubt and melancholy, 
and finally to despair. Universal ists are rarely insane, as they 
are buoyed up by hope, and are often cheerful ; but Universalism 
is a passport without a signature: a robe not in the fashion of the 
robe of righteousness. All insane persons are costive. Typhus 
fever is a species of insanity. The nerves of voluntary and in 
voluntary motion are opposite; if the one class are unusual In- 
active, the other are proportionally inactive. 

In addition to the other remedies, give a tincture of Cayenne 
and alcohol, and use the warm bath, with friction, by rubbing the 
patient with a wet woollen cloth. 

If the foregoing treatment was observed in the insane hospitals, 
in one week three-fourths of the patients would be cured. 



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